Mozambique fights against Islamist attack in Cabo Delgado – DW – May 10, 2024

The Mozambican military is battling a major Islamist attack in the town of Macomia in northern Mozambique, according to President Filipe Nyusi.

“Macomia has been under attack since this morning. The firefight continues,” Nyusi said in a televised address on Friday, adding that the militants initially retreated after about 45 minutes of fighting but then regrouped and came back.

Macomia is in the gas-rich Cabo Delgado province, where Islamic State-linked militants launched an insurgency in 2017.

What do we know about the attack?

Local media reported that hundreds of militants took part in Friday’s attack.

The attack appeared to be the worst in recent memory as violence has increased since the start of the year. The International Organization for Migration said in March that more than 110,000 people had been displaced in the province since the end of last year.

A Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional force deployed to Mozambique in 2021 began withdrawing last month as its mandate ends in July.

The president warned that attacks could occur during transition periods.

The attack comes as French energy giant TotalEnergies is considering resuming work on a $20 billion (about 18.56 billion euros) liquefied natural gas project in Cabo Delgado. The project was put on hold in 2021 due to the uprising.

rmt/lo (AFP, Reuters)